O2 Academy

I’ve only been here the once, and that wasn’t for a bonafide gig, but a club night.
It’s location means it has a heavy student or just-​recently-​graduated crowd. But they know how to have fun, and with the prices of the drinks being what they are, you’d be mad not to join in. Compared to the London prices I’m accustomed to, I felt like a rich man in here. Six drinks and change from a £20. Yes thank you.
Split over two rooms on their ‘Propaganda’ nights — it’s mainstream downstairs and cheese/​alternative upstairs. The latter is a lot of fun and the former gets busy — especially as they have live bands to keep you entertained.
I like it here. Let go for a night and have a party.

I’ve been to many a different event here, from its time as the Zodiac through its brief time as the Carling Academy to now as the O2 Academy. The only thing that is really the same since the Zodiac days is the upstairs… still dark, hot and the best stage in the building.
This academic year I’ve been four times, once for Submotion Orchestra (brilliant and upstairs), Annie Mac (horrible crowd, under-​whelming music), Warehouse (Friday regular starting in 2012, formerly at the Regal; it was many times better at the Regal) and Labrinth (good fun).
One of my biggest issues at this venue is that they try to use it as a concert venue for larger crowds. The floors are not nicely sloped like many better venues and so if you are between ¹⁄₈ and ¾ the distance away from the stage you pretty much only see the backs of heads unless you are taller than 5’10″, which is fine for me, but not for many others i know and much of the rest of the crowd. Upstairs is a little better, but not the best unless you are within the first couple of meters of the stage.
Despite all that, it does the job.

Still a great place. Last night, three of us attended a Labrinth concert. The O2 concert crowd is much more palatable than their clubbing crowd, so the experience was much more enjoyable. No slipping, bumping, and cattiness last night! The start time stated online was 7PM, but of course we knew better. We sauntered our way over and made it in the doors by about 7:30PM. Unfortunately, we had just missed the first act, so we got ourselves a round of drinks at only 4.10gbp first. I also did coat check, which was still 1.50gbp. We eventually settled on a spot just about halfway away from the stage and there were two girls who spent the entire night standing stick-​straight like columns. Not fun. But, we were able to enjoy the second act while sipping away on our drinks.
Finally, 8:45PM rolled around and Labrinth hopped onto the stage. The entire set was very impressive and everyone was really into it. The crowd didn’t jostle around or anything and everyone was just there to enjoy his music. Of course, he did the fake «this is the end of the set» deal, but eventually made his way back for the performance of his second single, «Earthquake». It was, by far, his best performance of the night and I’ve become a fan. I will say, though, the set up of O2 isn’t conducive for 100% visibility, so I spent a good portion of the night straining my neck. But, given the fact that so many people were recording on their cellphones, I also got to rest my neck while watching the performance on their phones. All in all, thumbs up!

Used to be the Carling Academy (briefly). Before that it was the much more famous Zodiac Club.
The upstairs (smaller) venue still has that name.
Great place, great atmosphere.